Wire-line clamp



Aug 5', 1.92% 1,504,087

J. R. BRADY WIRE LINE CLAMP Filed Jan. 5. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug 5 192%.

J. R. BRADY WIRELINE CLAMP Filed 1924 2 Sheets- Sheet Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

. *nirnn i r JUDSON ROY BRADY, OF ARKANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

"WIRE-LINE CLAIVI'E.

Application filed January 5, 1924. SeriaI No. 684,521.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

. it known that I, JUosoN R. Berni,

citizen of the United States, and resident cation.

The invention relates to clamps for cables and is particularly adapted for use with drilling lines of wire, although it may employed wherever it isdesired to firmly grip a rope orcable of wire or other material.

An object of the invention is the provision of a form of clamp which will grip the cable or line firmly throughout a considerable extent andwitha greater force than is readily obtainable in the usual form of such devices.

Another object is to provide a clamp in which the pull on the line in use will tend to tighten the pressure exerted by the clamp.

Another object is to provide a clamp that can be readily applied and removed and which will be simple and eflicient in its operation.

Other objects will be apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the clamp showing the position of the cable when in use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the clamp.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation.

The clamp comprises a body 1 having integral hook projections 2 adapted to receive connections from the temper screw or other supporting means. One side of the body has a wedge shaped cutout in which slide wedge clamping members 3 having circular longitudinal grooves 4; adapted to engage the cable A. These members 3 i are held against accidental displacement sidcwise by plate members 5 which are fastened to the body 1 by headed cap screws 6 or in some similar manner. The outer edge of each wedge member is provided with a rib 3 having a rack 7.

Meshing with each rack 7 is a gear 8 on a shaft 9 having a bearing at one end in the plate member 5 and at the other end in a bearing member 10 threaded into a recess 11 in the body. Each shaft 9 also carries a worm gear 12. .h lounted in a bore l3 e:; tending through the body at right angles to the shafts 9 is a shaft 14: having its ends mounted in bearings and provided with worms l6 meshing with the worm gears This shaft is provided with a wheel 17' or handle at one end for turning the same and is held against longitudinal movement by a screw 18 having a round pivot inner end 19 engaging in a groove.- betwcen the enlarnt l outer end 20 of the shaft, and a circular face at the end of the worm.

By turning the hand wheel 17 as desired the worms, one of which is right handed and the other left handed. will rotate the two shafts 9 in opposite directions thus turning the gear-s8 which mesh withthe racks 7 and moving the sliding wedge members 3 out far enough so that the cable can be passed in through the space B. Then by turning the hand wheel in the opposite dirzction the wedge members will be forced downward causing the circular portions 4- to clamp the cable tightly. The worms will hold the wedges against accidental displacement but the downward pull on the cable will. tend to pull the clamps downward, thus tightening the same. The clamp can be quickly applied and removed, and the gripping force can be regulated more easily than with previous forms. It is also possible to obtain a very high'prcssure upon the cable and hold it firmly even though it is under great tension. Cables of different sizes and different materials may be held by the de vice without modification. In some instances only one movable wedge member 3 need be employed.

Although primarily adapted for use in drilling operations, it is evident that it can. be employed wherever it is desired to grip a cable firmly. It is also obvious that various detail changes may be made without dc parting from the spirit of the invention which is to be regarded as limited only by the terms of the app-ended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wire clamp comprising a body. slid ably mounted clamping jaws carried there by a rack on each of said jaws, shafts carrying pinions meshing with said racks, worm gears on said shafts, and an operating shaft having worms meshing with said worm gears. v

2. A wire clamp comprising a body, a

members mounted to slide therein, a rack on each of said members, shafts carrying pinions meshing with said racks, and means for rotating said pinions simultaneously comprising worm gearing.

4. A ire clamp comprising a body having a Wedge shaped opening therein, a pair of opposed Wedge shaped clamps having clamping faces and mounted to slide in said body, and gear mechanism for moving said clamps longitudinally in said opening and thereby to or from clamping position.

5. A Wire clamp comprising a body having a Wedge shaped opening therein, a Wedge shaped clamp mounted to slide in said opening, a rib on the back of said clamp, a gear on said rib, a pinion meshing With said gear, and means comprising a Worm gear for by, means whereby the operative faces of the clamp members approach each other on 'movement in one direction and recede from for sliding said clamp members simultaneously.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JUDSON ROY BRADY. 

